A RETIRED factory worker who was previously homeless and living in temporary accommodation is thrilled to have moved into a shared-ownership home in Ilminster.

Malcolm Gage, 69, is grateful to be in his new home as he was in a difficult situation from a previous relationship.

It left him homeless before he moved into a hotel for more than a year thanks to help from a friend.

He applied for two one-bedroom properties in Chard through the town council and missed out on both.

But in the meantime, he applied for a place on LiveWest’s Ilminster scheme.

Malcolm said: “I was pinning my hopes on it, and I wanted number 45 but the day of release I was told that number had gone.

"I luckily got hold of someone else who let me know a few hours later that I had got one.

“I can always remember the day I found out I had the house.

"I was driving up through the town of Chard and I had a phone call.

"It was from LiveWest and she said, ‘Malcolm, you’ve got the house’ and I broke down and cried.

"It was absolutely fantastic, here I am now, and I’m overwhelmed by it.”

The Winterhay Lane site is one of the biggest in the area for several years and has 40 homes for rent, with 25 allocated for shared ownership with 20 for rent to buy.

Malcolm said: “I haven’t had any grumbles with LiveWest. Whenever I ring them up, they’ve solved the problems that I have.

“The aftercare has been really good as you only have to make a phone call and they get back to you quite quickly.

"I’m quite happy here and thanks to everybody it’s a great scheme because I don’t know where I would have been without it.

“My twin brother, who helped me with all of this and his wife, have been absolutely amazing for me.

"Because if it was left to me, I wouldn't have a clue how to sort it as it’s all computer stuff and I never learnt that.”